SHORE KEEPS THE LEAGUE LEAD

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 157, 5 July 1941, Page 2 (Supplement)

SHORE KEEPS THE LEAGUE LEAD

PONSONBY BACKS SHOW WAY TO NEWTON

SIX GOALS KICKED BY SMITH FOR SHORE

MARIST BACK PLAY WAS TOO GOOD FOR PAPAKURA

Mount Albert Goes Down by Wide Margin: Richmond Proves Too Good For Manukau: Marist and Ponsonby Have Wins

In fairly heavy going the Auckland Rugby League's senior championship matches* were advanced a further stage at Carlaw Park this afternoon, when North Shore maintained its place at the head of the League ladder by beating Mt. Albert by 30 points to 8. It was a game marked by hard forward play and occasional good concerted efforts by both back divisions. In the main game Richmond beat Manukau by 9 points to 7. Richmond was one point behind at half-time, but after a tense struggle drew ahead in the second half. Marist was too strong for the Papakura team and won by 15 points to 3, while Ponsonby, with better team play, recorded a win against Newton by 15 points to 0. RICHMOND RECOVERY AGAINST MANUKAU

The teams were:— Richmond: Majrill. Snyers. Tittleton. •lack. Solomon. Williams, Webb. Davis Mitchell d ' HiltOn ' Pottcr > Mackintosh, Manukau: Chase. Butler. R. Martin Awliitu. Murray. Hemi, Nhilton. Thew! "atene, Kei. Ririnui. W. Martin. Tc Tai. Brigiht Richmond inter-play was a feature as soon as the teams settled down with Solomon making openings cleverly, and the Richmond backs supporting with speed and understanding. Manukau managed to work through to the Richmond end, and from a penalty chance Hemi got the opening pointe. The Manukau play was cast on unorthodox lines, and was spectacular. Sliilton a forward usually, was playing halt-back in the absence of Oliver, but was throwing tfood long passes. Hemi and Murrav were teaming well, and the Manukau three-quarter line was speedy and alert Forward. Manukau held an advantage bv reason of its heavy ~.-1, l<. 1,, 1t the Hi, liinond forwards were the faster set in the open. nn ,l 1)lo pl . lv ot - ihc ];„.,,,„„„,, backs went, with smoothness and rhythm from Webb, at, the base of the s, rum the ball was going along the Richmond chain in an attempt to give the ..pe.-dv Savers on the wing the overlap, and it was tactics which Manukau met in fearless tackling on the covering defence principle. Hie game went along with speed andfin a changeful way, with Manukau springing surprise moves which the spectators enjoyed. Richmond drew into the lead in brilliant combination. Tittlcton giving the final pass to send Jackson in at the corner to wore. Hemi kicked a beautiful long-range goal fmm a penalty to restore the lead to Manukau. the half-time scores being: Manukau 4 Richmond ' ' 3 Richmond set out on a task <vf recovery when the second half opened, and launched raid after raid on the Manukau end. to •meet a n unwavering defence, and a nill-wa-'.-k in Chaee, who .was extremely sound. I'lion the play ,beean to swing from end to end, with 'both tcame varying its tactics in an effort to get through. Manukau was playing to check the pivotal play of ftolotnon, and Richmond put a similar'concentration on Hemi. Play was working across the Richmond -to wUien Hemi sent a diagonal exploiting ■kick the opposite way. As Awhitu swept up he was tackled 'by Sayers [before lie could reach the ball, and the referee awarded the try. Amid excitement, Richmond played an all-out game in an attempt to retrieve the position, and Manukau lne t the challenge with a desperate defence, in lrhk-h forwards and backs shared alike. Solomon rose to heights of greatness in an endeavour to save Richmond. He made a ihlind side dash that took the plnv up to the Manukau try-line. Play went across towards the goal, and then Solomon ~ot the (ball again to throw himself across and score.

The nex-t Richmond attack was an allteam affair, Richmond going the full length of the field. Tliere was some ~reat Manukau defence on the way then a ong kick 'by Tittleton and a momentary liold-up, until the ball was shot out to Sayers. The wins crowded on pace and cheered all the way by Richmond *„-.- porters, rare,! in at the Hag to ....in a tlv which .put Richmond in the lead. The play continued on intensive lines with Ric-hnnond smooth-working in sion and Manukau throwhi« the hall a.hout path ihSr-' iM ;U1 ; " tOMiPt t<( (i '"' " From this point the Ricnmnn,] ~,ip 01 , the game tightened, and nio<t ,»f the plazas at M,e Manukau end. whore desperate ,'!,,•> , Wi ' S mH I,y il " «l'«»H.v deflorate ' 'The'end was: — Richmond n Manukau - Mr. .1. Donovan was referee.

Again Marist broke away. Seymour was bustled and kicked across the line. A race for the ball endued, Crocker just beating Seymour to score. Breed failed with the kick. Marist continued to press and Pnpakura was penalised in front of its soal. McLeod being successful with the kick. The half time fcore was: Marist 10 Papakura 0 Papakura started off in sensational fashion after the interval. Burgoync took the kick-off, ran through to secure possession and pass to H. Hojran. who stored a line try which was not converted. Smith was playing a good came on the wing foi I'.ipakiiia. frequently gaining a lot of ground with his strong running. Tinplay fluctuated for a time, first one side and then the other gaining a slight advantage. A ground kick by a Marist forward sent Dickson in hot pursuit, but Seymour picket! up cleanly and saved 'i score. McLeod. Marist forward, was ordered off at this stage. The play was hard now and as fast as the heavy ground and ball would allow. Marist ha.l the best of the play and Papakura was hard pressed. A Marist chain movement from a scrum near Papakura's line ended in Smith scoring a fine try which Wiberg converted. Marist held the upper hand to the end and the final score was: Marist I"» l'apnkura 3 Mr. J. Jones was referee.

Manst proved too pood for Papnkura the early paine on Xo. 2 ground. The '", Y as so ,' ,lon after ,ain an,, thc *""* aeked sparkle i>. consequenee. The Pamkura forwards held their own wit I, the oppoßiiiK six for n time, hut the Marist hack lino was the bettor of the two Al.ii ist Won by 15 points to 3. A cut through the defence by Donnvati shortly after the start put Papakiiru hard on tile delensive. but Seymour forced in time Jhe Papakura forwards kept the ball low and worked back to near hallway in a dribbling rush. MrWilJiams. Marist half-back, then broke away in Papakura "J twenty-five and kicked throi-i-h but the ball went over the dead line Both sides were finduis it diflicult to handle the greasy and heavy ball. Papakura had the host of the exchanges at this stace. Marist being prime.] up for some time. A break away by the Maiist backs pave relief. Smith and Donovan beintr prominent in a movement wlm'i tested the defence. Papakura worked back past halfway, where Seymour had .i third unsuccessful penalty kick. A beautiful movement by Marist, in which Smith. Breed. McWilliams and Wibertr handled, ended in Wiberj; coins over for a Rood try -which he converted. Papakura retaliated with a breakaway with the ball at toe, swarming over the Marist line, where White lost possession.

Ponsonby gave a fine display to beat Newton, and good team work by the backs resulted in five unconverted tries, (iood team work was the deciding factor in the game. Soon after the kick off. Xewton pained a territorial advantage, and Ponsonby was sorely pressed. Clever play by Kay and Williams removed the danger and Briggs and Thomas carried play well into the Newton territory. The Newton backs showed excellent combination, and Kendall, at centre, made a splendid opening, but hung on too long, when Silva. on the wing, was in a good position to score. It seemed a certainty thrown away. The Ponsonby forwards, with Sullivan and Laird in the van. swept over the defence. but Tredrca saved with a timely clearance. Ponsonby pressed again, but when a try looked possible Murphy, the winger. kicked, although the whole Kick line was racing goahvaids. The Ncwti-n barks tackled well. Bin ton and f.icen lining good work. lulev retired fmm the Ponsonby team, and Thoirras went to fiveeighths. The Xewton forwards rlid well in the Kiose. Zimmerman, who has a future as a heavy weight boxer, gained ground and Cinders raced well into the Ponsonby twenty-five. It was. however, patchy play so far. William*:. Kay and Carr essayed a passing l>out. but the last-mentioned was penalised for not playing the Kill. Ponsonby strove hard to draw first blood and Williams pit within a yard of the Xewton lino. Ponsonby missed another try when Kay beat the opposition, but Thomas missed the transfer. However. Murphy made amends and drew first blood with a try at the corner. Kay failed to convert. Ponsonby 3, Newton 0. Ponsonby 3 Newton 0 Early in the second half Ponsonby gained the ascendancy, and from a go.nl forward rush Blucher scored. Kay failed to convert. The Ponsonby backs indulged in some nice back play, and the pace was on when Kay made a fine opening and passed to Thomas, who sent Murphy racing over at the corner. Another good passing movement saw Williams race smartly from the base of the scrum, and again Murphy completed the movement with .1 well-deserved try. Ponsoiiby 12, Xewton 0.

From half way Carr burst through the I centre and raced 40yds before Tredrea (lathered him with a cood tackle. The NTcwton backs found the PoiiKonby set too speedy, and another bright movement saw Kay ijienetrate deeply, hut a forward pass from Carr to Murphy saved the situation. Kay missed a penalty kick, but a few minutes later Williams, from the scrum, badly beat the opposition and passed to Kay. who raced over at the corner. Kay failed to convert. Ponsonby 15. Xewton 0. Although Quirke. the Xewton hooker, pave the backs the ball. tHey did little with it. Kay snapped up in the loose, lint. Thomas just failed to cither in a pas.- - , which would have brought a certain try. The came ended: Ponsonby 1.1 Xewton '...... in Mr. J. O'Shanne.-sey was referee. I

Shore showed «uporioi il.t in tin- openin- phase hi play, mid Smith kicked a nice penally L'oal to -i\e Shore the lii.-t points. Slim,, came au.iin. this time in .i sp.iiUle of interplay, and a Inn;; p.u-s *i<lll Wllkii- ill at the ll.ij.'. The next Slimy li-j was -.ithei.sl by Clarke from a blind side move, and conversion liv Smith lifted the Shore score to double' fitruri*. Despite «o<«l w<.! k by tlie Mount Albeit forwards in masked attack, the f.imc was still runniim ill Shore's favour. In defensive play Mount Albert passim: went astray, and Wilkie came with d.ish t<i cet his second try. Smith convert in c with a creat kirk from the side-line. The Mount Albert backs opened up in the Shore end and the ball woik.M out , to H. tiaiich. who cut his way ihrouirh ' the Shore backs to Smith, and then passed to send Mucker in to ecoie. I The halt-ti-ne s< ore was: J Xovth Shore ]"• | Mount Albert :t | When the teams turned over Petersen ' another Shore try. and Smith «.n----verted. The Mount Albeit reply w.i* n I lively rally, and after Hethei hacl I opened tlie way with a stab kirk. Ti is-' tram pot neross for a cood try. Taylor next kkked a penalty poal for Mount Albeit. Both bark divisions reported in open play. Owley {showing brilliance ;.-.r Mount Albert, and Chatham disclosiue speed aud sharp and Uee;> thrust for Shore. One <>f the itiitrt.iinliui: |.l.i\eis ..; ih< ilanie was Smith, -..i Noith Sl;-uc w',,.-.-hVldina w.is I f ■■.-.11.-i,"..■ j.l.n excellent. Sh.u|. Shoio ~,i.~-i.,_. - o ; Lain; i across for a try. and Smith kicked hih'nli poal. Petersen cot a las'.-minute try which i Smith converted, and the final hvitw were: I, Xorth Shore y» ] Mount Albert .....„_.._,,.. S